Frequently Asked Questions

Do we have to be Catholic?

No. The weekends are designed for couples planning to be married in the Catholic Church, they are open to couples from differing faith backgrounds, and is based on the Catholic belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. Catholic Engaged Encounter has been found to be both beneficial and supportive of couples from differing faiths.

What should we bring to the weekend?
Please be sure to bring the following items with you:
• Comfortable casual clothing
• Toiletries, medicines and other personal items
• A snack and drink (e.g., soft drink, juice) to place on the shared snack table which will be available throughout the weekend. The monastery has excellent water and prefers that you use a reusable bottle or glass, rather than bring disposable water bottles.
• Any snack or drink items for your own personal consumption

What supplies does EE provide for the weekend?
The following items will be provided on the weekend. You do NOT need to bring these items:
• Linens (towels, sheets, pillows, blankets, etc.) • Notebook and pen

What time should we arrive?
Please arrive between 6:00 and 6:45. The weekend will begin at 7:00 p.m. Because we are on a tight schedule, we cannot wait for couples who arrive late. After registration you will receive a phone number to call if you will be arriving late.

What time does the weekend end?
The weekend typically ends about 3 pm on Sunday.

Do we have to stay for the entire weekend?
It is very important that you stay for the entire weekend. If you arrive late or leave early you will miss important parts of the weekend experience, and we will not be able to give you your weekend certificate and letter verifying your attendance.

Are there any ground rules for the weekend?
Yes, we do ask that you observe a few basic rules.
• Please refrain from the use of alcohol and illegal drugs
• Please stay in your assigned room
• Please do not leave the weekend, for any reason, unless an emergency arises. If you need to leave, please speak to one of the team members.

Will dinner be served on Friday evening?
No, dinner will not be served on Friday. The dining room will not be open until Saturday morning. On Saturday, three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be served. On Sunday, two meals (breakfast and lunch) will be served.

Can you accommodate my special diet needs?
The monastery is unable to cater to special diets. The monastery serves a wide variety of food at each meal and most people with special dietary needs find they are able to eat many of the foods available. You may also bring foods to supplement this if needed.

Will I have a roommate?
Yes, you will have a roommate of the same sex as yourself. While we recognize that couples may already be living together, you will not be permitted to share a room with your fiancé while on the weekend.

What will my room be like?
Your room will be very much like a college dorm room. It will have a bed, bedside table and closet. Each room has a full bath. There are no locks on the doors. The men are often housed at the Farmhouse, which has bedrooms and bathrooms like a typical home.

What should we wear?
Dress for the entire weekend is casual. Please dress comfortably. While you are welcome to do so, there is no need to change for dinner or Mass.

Where can I smoke?
All of our facilities prohibit smoking. You may, however, smoke in the designated area outside of the building.

Will we have much free time this weekend?
No, the weekend is designed to be intense so that you can spend as much concentrated time together as possible preparing for your marriage. You may find that we stay up later and get up earlier than you typically would on a weekend. Time permitting, we will have a break on Saturday afternoon.

Is there an emergency number?
If you need to be reached in case of emergency, the Spirit Center number is 208-962-2000. This number will also be included in a letter you receive after registering.